The European Parliament has published a report on the Commission’s proposals for new dispute resolution services to deal with e-commerce disputes. The “EEJ-Net” and “FIN-Net” initiatives are intended to provide alternative mechanisms for settling consumers’ grievances against on-line retailers without involving the courts.

The report criticises several aspects of the Commission’s working paper, including its lack of foresight and detail. It suggests that these “clearing houses” should be equipped to provide legal advice to consumers and should guarantee a minimum standard of service in dealing with cases.

In addition, the report stresses the importance of establishing adequate systems for monitoring and assessing the performance of the dispute resolution services. There is a strong possibility that the UK will employ the services of the Citizen’s Advice Bureau in order to ensure it complies with any EU requirements regarding the Commission’s proposals.

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